Physical examination of the breast.

Despite the increasing emphasis in physicians' use of screening mammography, primary care physicians continue to appropriately perform physical examination of the breast. Several screening programs have reported that mammography will miss at least 10% of breast cancers, physical examination can independently detect breast cancer, the combination of mammography and physical examination is superior to either modality alone, and biopsy of a palpable dominant mass should not be deferred because the results of the mammogram are normal. Optimal breast cancer screening should include both mammography and physical examination of the breast.